"That wasn't my doing. I swear on the na of the Marines, Lord Shichibukai, don't go blaming the wrong person." Captain Luka stated firmly.
It was true that he had sent soone to handle it, but apparently, soone else had beaten him to it. Perhaps one of Harry's old enemies had seized the opportunity. Either way, the timing was impeccable.
"I was the one who did it. Thanks for your hard work."
A voice rang out as Moris stepped forward.
"I must say, Captain Luka, I didn't expect you to be capable of betraying your own comrades so easily. Quite the surprise. But now that all the players are here, I believe it's ti to settle the score."
As he spoke, masked figures clad in black surged forward like a tidal wave, surrounding the entire Marine force in the area.
There was no hesitation.
The mont the trap was sprung, the killing began.
One by one, Marines were cut down, their bodies collapsing onto the blood-stained ground.
Further away, other Marine units attempting to round up pirates were intercepted by even more masked assailants.
Screams echoed through the night, the burning city casting eerie shadows over the massacre.
Luka's heart sank into the abyss.
Moris—he actually dared to slaughter Marines.
Did he not fear the wrath of Marine Headquarters?
And worst of all—he knew about the ambush on Rear Admiral Harry.
But how?
The only witnesses had been Luka's most trusted subordinates. No one else should have known.
Then, as Captain Lorry erged from behind Moris, Luka's blood ran cold.
This can't be happening.
Lorry was the first Marine to pledge loyalty to him.
His background had checked out, and he had always been efficient, never questioning orders—even when they violated regulations.
Had he been a traitor from the very start?
"Thanks for your excellent command tonight, Captain Luka."
Moris' voice was calm.
"Without you, the Marines wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses. If too many had escaped, things would have been troubleso. Oh, and by the way—did you really think Captain Lorry was ever your man?"
Luka stared in shock, his world falling apart.
Moris shook his head.
"From the mont you arrived in Wine City, all the so-called 'trustworthy' people by your side were mine.
Anlin? My pawn.
Captain Lorry? Also mine.
They were all pieces I used to push the Marines into conflict with Bordeaux Winery."
Lorry stepped forward, his expression emotionless.
"Boss, it's done."
All around them, hundreds of Marines lay dead.
Most of the forces stationed elsewhere were still unaware, while those who had noticed sothing was wrong had already been cut off.
Captain Luka now stood completely alone.
And judging by Lorry's empty stare, he was the one who had leaked information about the ambush on Harry.
Everything had fallen apart too fast.
—
Luka clenched his fists.
"Don't look at like that, Captain. From the beginning, I was with the Bounty Guild." Lorry's voice was ice-cold.
—
"Die!"
Luka wasn't an idiot.
He could see it—Moris had no intention of letting him walk away.
There was no offer of negotiations, no sign of hesitation.
His only hope now rested on Crocodile.
If he could convince the Warlord to intervene, there might be a chance—however slim.
Without hesitation, he spun his military crossbow, aiming at Moris.
With a pull of the trigger, a laser-enhanced armor-piercing arrow shot straight toward Moris' skull.
—
Moris' right hand darkened with Armant Haki.
He reached out calmly—
and caught the arrow mid-flight.
—
BOOM!
A violent explosion engulfed Moris and his n, flas consuming everything.
But Luka wasn't done.
As if ignited himself, thin wisps of blue smoke curled from his body, carrying a strong scent of burnt tobacco.
—
"Nicotine Surge! Absorption—Excitation Boost!"
Luka's entire body burst into flas, his skin glowing like a lit cigarette.
A Paracia-type Devil Fruit user—the Tobacco-Tobacco Fruit.
His primary abilities revolved around tar, smoke, and nicotine manipulation.
Unlike a Logia, he couldn't fully turn into smoke, but his body emitted toxic fus, and the nicotine acted as a stimulant, temporarily boosting his strength.
—
"What a giant cigarette."
Mr. 5 glanced at Luka, unable to resist comnting.
"Truly, Devil Fruits never fail to surprise."
Even Crocodile was mildly intrigued.
—
Luka dashed forward, heading straight for Rosen.
"Lord Crocodile, help !"
He threw out his final bargaining chips.
"Save , and everything in Bordeaux Winery—treasures, supplies, all of it—will be yours!"
"And rember—"
"Your body has already absorbed my tar-smoke!"
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
"Rember when we smoked together at the banquet?"
"It's not enough to kill you imdiately, but if I get close, I can accelerate its effects—you'll start weakening fast."
Luka was gambling everything.
Rosen blinked.
Was that true?
Now that he thought about it, he had smoked back then.
So Luka had been plotting against him all along?
An old fox indeed.
Unfortunately for him—Moris had ruined all his plans.
—
"I'll kill him."
Daz Bones stepped forward, voice emotionless.
—
But Rosen stopped him.
Not yet.
There was no need to move.
Soone else would take care of it.
—
The smoke cleared—
Moris stood unhard, still holding the arrow.
Luka gritted his teeth.
"Damn it…!"
The Laser Armor-Piercing Arrow was a one-ti-use weapon against strong foes.
And Moris was stronger than expected—perhaps even stronger than Bam.
If he had to choose, it was safer to bet on Crocodile.
—
But Crocodile had no intention of saving him.
If Luka had been just a little stronger, tonight could have ended very differently.
And now, it turned out Luka had been plotting against him all along?
The so-called "tar-smoke poison" wasn't as deadly as Luka claid—
Otherwise, he would have used it much earlier instead of relying on threats.
The fact that he had to bluff now proved that its effects were limited.
—
"Here. Take it back."
Moris flicked the arrow.
Unlike Luka, he didn't need a crossbow to fire it.
The projectile soared even faster than when it was first launched.
—
Luka's eyes widened in horror.
He turned to Crocodile in desperation.
"Crocodile! Save ! Na your price!"
He reached for a vial of Sacred Wine, his last hope for survival.
But it was too late.
—
BOOM!
The arrow pierced through his body, setting off an even larger explosion.
His corpse was obliterated, leaving nothing behind.
—
"Moris! You killed Captain Luka! Was this all your plan?"
Crocodile's voice was low, his expression unreadable.
—
Moris grinned.
"You're a smart man, Crocodile."
"If I didn't need you to take the fall for tonight's events, I would have invited you to join us."
He stretched lazily.
"Who knows? Maybe once the governnt revokes your Warlord status, you'll co looking for us yourself."
He raised a hand.
Instantly, the masked assassins vanished into the night.
Crocodile took a slow drag of his cigar.
Then exhaled.
"And what makes you think I'll lose my title?"
(End of Chapter)
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